Citation: Jingwen Zhang, Hualong Ma, Jun Ma, Meixue Hu, Qihao Li, Sheng Chen, Tianshu Ning, Chuangxin Ge, Xi Liu, Li Xiao, Lin Zhuang, Yixiao Zhang, Liwei Chen. Cone Shaped Surface Array Structure on an Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Improves Fuel Cell Performance[J]. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, ;2023, 39(2): 211103. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202111037 shu

Cone Shaped Surface Array Structure on an Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Improves Fuel Cell Performance

Jingwen Zhang ¹ ,
Hualong Ma ¹ ,
Jun Ma ¹ ,
Meixue Hu ² ,
Qihao Li ² ,
Sheng Chen ² ,
Tianshu Ning ² ,
Chuangxin Ge ³ ,
Xi Liu ¹ ,
Li Xiao ^{2, 4} ,
Lin Zhuang ^{2, 3} ,
Yixiao Zhang ^1,, ,
Liwei Chen ^1,,

1.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in-situ Center for Physical Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
2.
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Key Lab of Electrochemical Power Sources, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
3.
The Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
4.
Sauvage Center for Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Corresponding author: Yixiao Zhang, yxzhang2019@sjtu.edu.cn Liwei Chen, lwchen2018@sjtu.edu.cn
Received Date: 29 November 2021
Revised Date: 28 December 2021
Accepted Date: 30 December 2021
Available Online: 15 January 2022
Fund Project: the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21991153the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21991150

Fuel cells are essential energy conversion devices for future renewable energy structures. Mainstream proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) generally exhibit satisfactory performance despite requiring noble metal catalysts to be stable in acidic environments. Alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells (APEFCs), in contrast, offer the benefit of employing non-noble metal catalysts in fuel cells, but their overall performance and especially their long-term stability require further improvement. A critical component within APEFCs is the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which comprises a hydroxide ion conductive polymer membrane, a cathode, and an anode (including a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer). MEA is where electrochemical reactions occur; thus, it plays a crucial role in determining fuel cell performance. Herein, the fabrication of a cone-shaped array on the surface of an alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane for improving the overall device performance is presented. The cone array was prepared using a sacrificial anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, and the array side of the polymer electrolyte was used as the cathode to construct the MEA, denoted as A-MEA. The control sample with no cone arrays on the polymer electrolyte surface is denoted as P-MEA. The Pt loadings on both the anode and cathode sides were approximately 0.2 mg∙cm⁻². APEFCs with A-MEA and P-MEA were separately assembled and tested in an 850e Fuel Cell Test System at a cell temperature of 80 ℃. Fully humidified hydrogen and oxygen were both supplied at a flow rate of 1000 mL·min⁻¹. The back pressure for both the anode and the cathode was 0.2 MPa. As a result, the APEFC with A-MEA exhibited a higher peak power density than that of the APEFC with P-MEA (1.48 vs. 1.04 W∙cm⁻²). The enhanced electrochemical performance of the APEFC with A-MEA was ascribed to the array-structured cathode, which improved the hydrophilicity of the polymer electrolyte membrane and increased the utilization efficiency of the catalyst. The hydrophilicity of the polymer electrolyte membrane with cone arrays was confirmed using contact angle measurements. The contact angles of the membranes with and without cone arrays were ~0° and 70.8°, respectively. The hydrophilic membrane promotes the electrode reaction at the cathode side. The electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) was also measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV) between 0.08 and 1 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) at a scan rate of 20 mV∙s^-1, using fully humidified H₂ and N₂. A flow rate of 1000 mL∙min⁻¹ and back pressure of 0 MPa were employed. Results revealed that the ECSA of the cathode without the array was smaller than that of the array-structured cathode (21.17 vs. 24.89 m²∙g⁻¹), indicating that the array structure improved the catalyst utilization efficiency compared to that of the control sample. This study provides an effective strategy for the structural design and optimization of the MEAs in APEFCs.
- Fuel cell,
- Alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane,
- Membrane electrode assembly,
- Cathode,
- Array structure
1. [1]
  Stern, P. C.; Sovacool, B. K.; Dietz, T. Nat. Clim. Change 2016, 6 (6), 547. doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3027 doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3027
2. [2]
  Schrag, D. P. Elements 2007, 3 (3), 171. doi: 10.2113/gselements.3.3.171 doi: 10.2113/gselements.3.3.171
3. [3]
  Schultz, M. G.; Diehl, T.; Brasseur, G. P.; Zittel, W. Science 2003, 302 (5645), 624. doi: 10.1126/science.1089527 doi: 10.1126/science.1089527
4. [4]
  Liang, J.; Liu, X.; Li, Q. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2010072. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202010072
5. [5]
  Wang, J.; Ding, W.; Wei, Z. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2009094. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202009094
6. [6]
  Ralph, T. R.; Hogarth, M. P. Platin Met. Rev. 2002, 46 (3), 117. doi: 10.3390/books978-3-03842-659-2 doi: 10.3390/books978-3-03842-659-2
7. [7]
  Hickner, M. A.; Herring, A. M.; Coughlin, E. B. J. Polym. Sci. Part Polym. Phys. 2013, 51 (24), 1727. doi: 10.1002/polb.23395 doi: 10.1002/polb.23395
8. [8]
  Mehta, V.; Cooper, J. S. J. Power Sources 2003, 114 (1), 32. doi: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00542-6 doi: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00542-6
9. [9]
  Han, A.; Yan, X.; Chen, J.; Cheng, X.; Zhang, J. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2022, 38 (3), 1912052. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201912052
10. [10]
  Ding, L.; Tang, T.; Hu, J. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2010048. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202010048
11. [11]
  Wang, Y.; Li, L.; Hu, L.; Zhuang, L.; Lu, J.; Xu, B. Electrochem. Commun. 2003, 5 (8), 662. doi: 10.1016/S1388-2481(03)00148-6 doi: 10.1016/S1388-2481(03)00148-6
12. [12]
  Xue, Y.; Wang, X.; Zhang, X.; Fang, J.; Xu, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, X.; Liu, M.; Zhu, W.; Zhuang, Z. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2009103. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202009103
13. [13]
  Huang, G.; Mandal, M.; Peng, X.; Yang-Neyerlin, A. C.; Pivovar, B. S.; Mustain, W. E.; Kohl, P. A. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2019, 166 (10), F637. doi: 10.1149/2.1301910jes doi: 10.1149/2.1301910jes
14. [14]
  Hou, H. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2014, 30 (8), 1393. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201406171
15. [15]
  Li, N.; Leng, Y.; Hickner, M. A.; Wang, C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 10124. doi: 10.1021/ja403671u doi: 10.1021/ja403671u
16. [16]
  Wang, L.; Brink, J. J.; Varcoe, J. R. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 11771. doi: 10.1039/c7cc06392j doi: 10.1039/c7cc06392j
17. [17]
  Chen, S.; Peng, H.; Hu, M.; Wang, G.; Xiao, L.; Lu, J.; Zhuang, L. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2021, 4 (5), 4297. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.1c00433 doi: 10.1021/acsaem.1c00433
18. [18]
  Peng, H.; Li, Q.; Hu, M.; Xiao, L.; Lu, J.; Zhuang, L. J. Power Sources 2018, 390, 165. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.04.047 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.04.047
19. [19]
  Klingele, M.; Britton, B.; Breitwieser, M.; Vierrath, S.; Zengerle, R.; Holdcroft, S.; Thiele, S. Electrochem. Commun. 2016, 70, 65. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2016.06.017 doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2016.06.017
20. [20]
  Kim, K. H; Lee, K. Y.; Kim, H. J.; Cho, E. Lee, S. Y.; Lim T. H.; Yoon, S. P.; Hwang I. C.; Jang, J. H. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2010, 35 (5), 2119. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.11.058 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.11.058
21. [21]
  Debe, M. K. Nature 2012, 486 (7401), 43. doi: 10.1038/nature11115 doi: 10.1038/nature11115
22. [22]
  Gottesfeld, S.; Dekel, D. R.; Page, M.; Page, M.; Bae, C. Yan, Y.; Zelenay, P.; Kim, Y. J. Power Sources 2018, 375, 170. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.08.010 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.08.010
23. [23]
  Zhang, J.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, J.; Xu, L. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2015, 31 (12), 2316. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB20151022
24. [24]
  Liu, C. Y.; Sung, C. C. J. Power Sources 2012, 220, 348. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.07.090 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.07.090
25. [25]
  Moreira, J.; Ocampo, A. L.; Sebastian, P. J.; Smit, M. A.; Salazar, M. D.; Angel, P. D.; Montoya, J. A.; Pérez, R.; Martínez, L. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2003, 28 (6), 625. doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00143-X doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00143-X
26. [26]
  Lobato, J.; Rodrigo, M. A.; Linares, J. J.; Scott, K. J. Power Sources 2002, 157 (2006), 284. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.07.040 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.07.040
27. [27]
  Chen, M.; Wang, M.; Yang, Z.; Wang, X. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2017, 406, 69. doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.296 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.296
28. [28]
  Wang, G.; Zou, L.; Huang, Q.; Zou, Z. Yang, H. J. Mater. Chem. A 2019, 7 (16), 9447. doi: 10.1039/c8ta12382a doi: 10.1039/c8ta12382a
29. [29]
  Zhang, W.; Minett, A. I.; Gao, M.; Zhao, J.; Razal, J. M.; Wallace, G. G.; Romeo, T.; Chen, J. Adv. Energy Mater. 2011, 1 (4), 671. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201100092 doi: 10.1002/aenm.201100092
30. [30]
  Zhang, C.; Yu, H.; Li, Y.; Gao, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Song, W.; Shao, Z.; Yi, B. ChemSusChem 2013, 6 (4), 659. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201200828 doi: 10.1002/cssc.201200828
31. [31]
  Ning, F.; Bai, C.; Qin, J.; Song, Y.; Zhang, T.; Chen, J.; Wei, J.; Lu, G.; Wang, H.; Li, Y.; et al. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8 (11), 5489. doi: 10.1039/c9ta13666e doi: 10.1039/c9ta13666e
32. [32]
  Dekel, D. R.; Rasion I, G.; Page, M.; Brandon, S. J. Power Sources 2018, 375, 191. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.012 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.012
33. [33]
  Sheng, W.; Zhuang, Z.; Gao, M.; Zheng, J.; Chen, J.; Yan, Y. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6 (1), 1. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6848 doi: 10.1038/ncomms6848
34. [34]
  Essalik, A.; Amouzegar, K.; Savadogo, O. J. Appl. Electrochem. 1995, 25, 404. doi: 10.1007/BF00249660 doi: 10.1007/BF00249660
1. [1]
  Yikai Wang , Xiaolin Jiang , Haoming Song , Nan Wei , Yifan Wang , Xinjun Xu , Cuihong Li , Hao Lu , Yahui Liu , Zhishan Bo . 氰基修饰的苝二酰亚胺衍生物作为膜厚不敏感型阴极界面材料用于高效有机太阳能电池. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 2406007-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202406007
2. [2]
  Fengqiao Bi , Jun Wang , Dongmei Yang . Specialized Experimental Design for Chemistry Majors in the Context of “Dual Carbon”: Taking the Assembly and Performance Evaluation of Zinc-Air Fuel Batteries as an Example. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(4): 198-205. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311069
3. [3]
  Qi Li , Pingan Li , Zetong Liu , Jiahui Zhang , Hao Zhang , Weilai Yu , Xianluo Hu . Fabricating Micro/Nanostructured Separators and Electrode Materials by Coaxial Electrospinning for Lithium-Ion Batteries: From Fundamentals to Applications. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(10): 2311030-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202311030
4. [4]
  Xiao SANG , Qi LIU , Jianping LANG . Synthesis, structure, and fluorescence properties of Zn(Ⅱ) coordination polymers containing tetra-alkenylpyridine ligands. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(11): 2124-2132. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240158
5. [5]
  Mingyang Men , Jinghua Wu , Gaozhan Liu , Jing Zhang , Nini Zhang , Xiayin Yao . 液相法制备硫化物固体电解质及其在全固态锂电池中的应用. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(1): 2309019-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202309019
6. [6]
  Aoyu Huang , Jun Xu , Yu Huang , Gui Chu , Mao Wang , Lili Wang , Yongqi Sun , Zhen Jiang , Xiaobo Zhu . Tailoring Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces via a Simple Slurry Additive for Stable High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(4): 100037-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202408007
7. [7]
  Jiandong Liu , Zhijia Zhang , Mikhail Kamenskii , Filipp Volkov , Svetlana Eliseeva , Jianmin Ma . Research Progress on Cathode Electrolyte Interphase in High-Voltage Lithium Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(2): 100011-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202308048
8. [8]
  Qianwen Han , Tenglong Zhu , Qiuqiu Lü , Mahong Yu , Qin Zhong . 氢电极支撑可逆固体氧化物电池性能及电化学不对称性优化. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(1): 2309037-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202309037
9. [9]
  Tianqi Bai , Kun Huang , Fachen Liu , Ruochen Shi , Wencai Ren , Songfeng Pei , Peng Gao , Zhongfan Liu . 石墨烯厚膜热扩散系数与微观结构的关系. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 2404024-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202404024
10. [10]
  Liang MA , Honghua ZHANG , Weilu ZHENG , Aoqi YOU , Zhiyong OUYANG , Junjiang CAO . Construction of highly ordered ZIF-8/Au nanocomposite structure arrays and application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(9): 1743-1754. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240075
11. [11]
  Tao Jiang , Yuting Wang , Lüjin Gao , Yi Zou , Bowen Zhu , Li Chen , Xianzeng Li . Experimental Design for the Preparation of Composite Solid Electrolytes for Application in All-Solid-State Batteries: Exploration of Comprehensive Chemistry Laboratory Teaching. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(2): 371-378. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202308057
12. [12]
  Endong YANG , Haoze TIAN , Ke ZHANG , Yongbing LOU . Efficient oxygen evolution reaction of CuCo₂O₄/NiFe-layered bimetallic hydroxide core-shell nanoflower sphere arrays. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(5): 930-940. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20230369
13. [13]
  Qinjin DAI , Shan FAN , Pengyang FAN , Xiaoying ZHENG , Wei DONG , Mengxue WANG , Yong ZHANG . Performance of oxygen vacancy-rich V-doped MnO₂ for high-performance aqueous zinc ion battery. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(3): 453-460. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240326
14. [14]
  Zhongxin YU , Wei SONG , Yang LIU , Yuxue DING , Fanhao MENG , Shuju WANG , Lixin YOU . Fluorescence sensing on chlortetracycline of a Zn-coordination polymer based on mixed ligands. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(12): 2415-2421. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240304
15. [15]
  Yu Guo , Zhiwei Huang , Yuqing Hu , Junzhe Li , Jie Xu . 钠离子电池中铁基异质结构负极材料的最新研究进展. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 2311015-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202311015
16. [16]
  Ru SONG , Biao WANG , Chunling LU , Bingbing NIU , Dongchao QIU . Electrochemical properties of stable and highly active PrBa_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_1.6Ni_0.4O_5+δ cathode material. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(4): 639-649. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240397
17. [17]
  Bao Jia , Yunzhe Ke , Shiyue Sun , Dongxue Yu , Ying Liu , Shuaishuai Ding . Innovative Experimental Teaching for the Preparation and Modification of Conductive Organic Polymer Thin Films in Undergraduate Courses. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(10): 271-282. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202404121
18. [18]
  Bowen Yang , Rui Wang , Benjian Xin , Lili Liu , Zhiqiang Niu . C-SnO₂/MWCNTs Composite with Stable Conductive Network for Lithium-based Semi-Solid Flow Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(2): 100015-. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202310024
19. [19]
  Yan LIU , Jiaxin GUO , Song YANG , Shixian XU , Yanyan YANG , Zhongliang YU , Xiaogang HAO . Exclusionary recovery of phosphate anions with low concentration from wastewater using a CoNi-layered double hydroxide/graphene electronically controlled separation film. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(9): 1775-1783. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240043
20. [20]
  Junjie Zhang , Yue Wang , Qiuhan Wu , Ruquan Shen , Han Liu , Xinhua Duan . Preparation and Selective Separation of Lightweight Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Trace Tetracycline Detection in Milk. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(5): 251-257. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311084

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(20)
Abstract views(1204)
HTML views(236)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142